Traction-belt.



C. 'L TULL'ESJ TRACTION BELT.

APPLICATION rILEn 314.1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT l.

C. L. TOLLES.

TRAGTION BELT.

- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24.1913. l 1 06,596. Patented Aug.11,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wr/Yann; Y i?! L /0 C /nvE/vro/z 7%.,@777 mac.: L. TOLLLS a .0L L? /5' 4- CHARLES L. TOLLES, OF EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN.

TRACTION-BELT.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ang; 11, 1914..

Application inca February 24, 1913. serial 10.750,4'00.

To ali l0/iom- 'it may Concern Be it known that I, CHARLES L.Toi,i.r:s, a citizen of the United States, resident of Eau Claire, county of Eau Claire-'State of Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction1`elts, of which the followingr is a specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide a belt in which the links and traction shoes are formed in one piece, thereby reducing the number of parts and simplifying the construction.

A further object isto provide a form of link having means for excluding sand and gravel from the bearings of the sprocket wheels therein'. A further object is Ito provide a traction belt in which the friction of the belt on vits bearings is reduced to a minimum, resulting in less power being inquired for operating the belt than usual in traction belts as ordi- .narily constructed.

A further object is to provide a traction belt which will allow the convenient separation of one or more of the links and shoes without disturbing the remaining portion of thebelt.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims. Y In'the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figurel is a side view, illustrating a portion of a traction belt and my improved traction belt thereon, Fig. 2. is a detail view of a portion of the belt` showing the interlocking arrangement of the links and the manner of securing the flexible bands to the links, Fig. 3 is a pla-n view of the links and tlie connecting bands, Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line of Fig.. 3.

vIn the drawing` 2represents a portion of a frame, having bearings 3 for a sprocket wheel 4, said bearings being adjustable on said frame by means of the adjusting screw 5. The links composing the traction belt each comprise wings (3 and 7 having flat upper surfaces substantially, and rounded or curved under surfaces 7 extending from.

front to rear of said wings. The inner portions of the wings of each link are spaced apart and connected by a bridge wall 8 from the ends of which webs 9 depend to an integral, transversely arranged s hoe 10. These parts are all Vpreferably cast n one piece The bridge-walls 8, offvvhich there is one for each link of the traction belt, fare spaced apart, forming suitable openings 11 to receivethe teeth of the sprocket wheel 4be" tween them, the bridge walls being circular, preferably, in cross section to fit into the re cesses between the teeth of the sprocket wheel. The wings 6 and 7 of each link have fiat inner bearing faces 12 at one end to receive the rounded bearing faces 13 of the adjoining link, the rounded surfaces allowing the links to turn upon oneanother in passing around the sprocket wheel and con- 1 form to the circle ofthe Wheel without unnecessary friction' or strainpon the belt. These bearing surfaces will also serve to exclude any sand or gravel from the bearing of the links on thesprocket wheel. Pri-l ma rily, however, they are. designedto facilitate the turning of the links on the-drive wheels. The rear ends of the wings' and 7 are also provided with recessesll-toref ceive the projections 15 of the wings Gand 7 of the adjoining link. fThe links are-conf -nected by flexible metal bands, similar tobi (hose shown and described in my application tiled- November 1,1912, Serial No. 729,115.

These bands are shown Fig. 4 indicated by reference numeral 16 and it-:the'under i curved surface of the wings 6- and 7 and have plates 17 bearing'thereon which arose?` cured to said wings, preferablyby means' of bolts 18 arranged inI pairs and passing through said wings. Y

The traction shoes 10, as heretofore stated, are formed integrally with the Webs 9 and have heel portions 19 and toe or nose portions 20, the toe of one shoe overlapping the heel of the succeeding shoe and both have curved bearing surfaces which are adapted to fit snugly together and prevent sand and gravel from working in between the shoes in the loperation of the belt. The Shoo preferably has transverse friction ribs or corrugations 21'1so that when the links are assembled there will be provided a series -f transverse ribs at intervals on the outside rf the belt to dig -into the soil and increase tlie traction of themachine. The lower run or stretch of the belt has bearings on an antifriction belt 22 which is full'yshown and described in myV pending application above re erred to.

above referred to, this case relating to the particular form of link which I may employ in the construction of the belt. v I claim `as my invention l. A traction belt comprising a series of links, each link consisting of an inner p0rtion having openings therein to receive the teeth of a sprocket wheel, flexible devices bridging the gaps between 'said links, one of said flexible devices being located on one side of said opening and the other on the other side thereof, and means for clamping said flexible devices to said links, said links having outwardly projecting portions and traction shoes thereon,.said inner portions, said outwardly projecting portions and said shoes being' cast in one piece.

2. A traction belt comprising a series of links, each having an inner sprocket wheel engaging portion and webs projecting outwardly therefrom, and traction shoes carried by said websusaid shoes, said webs and said inner portions being cast in one piece,

and an endless flexible means connecting said links one with another upon opposite sides of the middle portions thereof.

3. A traction belt comprising a series of links, each having laterally projecting 'wings spaced apart and a bridge wall between them, webs projecting from the inner portions of said wings, traction shoes mounted on said webs, and flexible connecting bands secured to the under surfaces 'of said wings.

4. A traction belt comprising a series .of links, .each having an inner sprocket wheel engraing portion and webs pro'ecting outwa y therefrom and traction'a oes carried by the webs, said shoes, said webs and said 4- 'mner portions being cast in one piece, said inner portions'of the wings having rounded out bearing faces and endless flexible devices secured to said outer bearin faces.

5. A traction belt comprising links having laterally rejecting spaced wings and sprocket wheel) them, webs projecting from lsaid wings, traction shoes carried by said webs, said wings, webs and shoes being cast in one piece, and spaced flexible endless devices securing the corresponding wings of adjoining links together.

6. A traction belt comprising links, eachengaging means connecting.

bands fitting the o'liter faces of the wings,

plates seated on the bands and secured to said Wings, one; end of the inner portion of each wing having a flat bearing face and the other end of each wing having a rounded bearing face adapted to coperate with said ilat'bearing face.

In witness whereof,-I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of February, 1913.

CHARLES L. TOLLES.

Witnesses:

J. AMUNusoN, F. C. Bannow. Y Y i,

Online o! this )that may be (or ive cents each, by addrening the Commissioner of Patenti. Washington, D. 0. 

